Mancala Games

Playing Mancala

Ever heard about Mancala games. I’m sure the lovers of traditional board games would be aware of Mancala. Mancala also called “sowing” games, or “count-and-capture” games is no one game but a type, or designation, of game. It is a family/class of board games. The word mancala comes from the Arabic word Naqala meaning literally “to move.” Mancala games are the oldest form of board games still famous in many parts of the world especially in many African and some Asian societies.

The game begins with the players placing an equal number of seeds, as per the variation in use, in each of the pits on the game board. A turn consists of removing all seeds from a pit, placing one in each of the following pits in sequence, and capturing based on the shape of board. This is the general game play sequence that applies to all games, although the details of each game may differ greatly. The object of mancala games is usually to capture more stones than the opponent.

According to wiki the most widely played games are probably:

Bao is a complex strategy game of Kenya and Zanzibar, played on an 8×4 board and is a “multi-lap” game with several sowings on each turn. This game is played in Zambia, Ethiopia and Kenya. It is very popular in Malawi, where it is often called Bawo.

Kalah is the ruleset usually included with commercially available boards; however, the game is heavily biased towards the first player, and it is often considered a children’s game. The board is 2×6 with stores, with one sowing only per move. Computerised versions are also available on the Net.

Oware, the national game of Ghana, is also known by Warri, Ayo, Awele, Awari, Ouril, and other names. It has relatively simple rules but considerable strategic depth. The board is 2×6 with stores, with only one sowing per turn. It is a “single-lap” game.

Omweso

Omweso (also known as coro) is a strategic game of Uganda, played on an 8×4 board. It is a “multi-lap” game with the possibility of several sowings on each move. The board has rectangular holes , does not fold, and has a handle for hanging up when not in use.

Pallanguzhi is played in Southern India with 2 x 7 stores. Two varieties of this game are popular, Kaashi and Bank.

There are more than 200 different names of mancala games. Many modern versions of mancala have been introduced in last few decades Few are Glass Bead Game , Mini Mancala ,Oh-Wah-Ree. Lets see if these new variants can be as famous as the oldest board games; Bao and Oware are till today.

If you are interested in any one type of traditional board game.. do let me know as I am doing an indepth research on the same, I may be able to help you…

Ever heard about Mancala games

The game begins with the players placing an equal number of seeds, as per the variation in use, in each of the pits on the game board. A turn consists of removing all seeds from a pit, placing one in each of the following pits in sequence, and capturing based on the shape of board. This is the general game play sequence that applies to all games, although the details of each game may differ greatly. The object of mancala games is usually to capture more stones than the opponent.

According to wiki; the most widely played games are probably:

Bao is a complex strategy game of Kenya and Zanzibar, played on an 8×4 board and is a “multi-lap” game with several sowings on each turn. This game is played in Zambia, Ethiopia and Kenya. It is very popular in Malawi, where it is often called Bawo.

Kalah is the ruleset usually included with commercially available boards; however, the game is heavily biased towards the first player, and it is often considered a children’s game. The board is 2×6 with stores, with one sowing only per move. Computerised versions are also available on the Net.

Oware, the national game of Ghana, is also known by Warri, Ayo, Awele, Awari, Ouril, and other names. It has relatively simple rules but considerable strategic depth. The board is 2×6 with stores, with only one sowing per turn. It is a “single-lap” game.

Omweso (also known as coro) is a strategic game of Uganda, played on an 8×4 board. It is a “multi-lap” game with the possibility of several sowings on each move. The board has rectangular holes , does not fold, and has a handle for hanging up when not in use.

Pallanguzhi is played in Southern India with 2 x 7 stores. Two varieties of this game are popular, Kaashi and Bank.

There are more than 200 different names of mancala games. Many modern versions of mancala have been introduced in last few decades Few are Glass Bead Game , Mini Mancala ,Oh-Wah-Ree. Lets see if these new variants can be as famous as the oldest board games; Bao and Oware are till today.